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The weekend in Dallas began with 11 inches of snow and ended with Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game crowd of 108,713 fans at Cowboys Stadium to set a new basketball record. The Friday festivities included the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge, where the Rookies beat the Sophomores for the first time in 8 years. Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings was the MVP with 26 points, six rebounds and five assists. His rookie teammates Brandon Jennings and Dejaun Blair combined for 44 points and 29 rebounds. The Sophomores might have continued their dominance had Derrick Rose participated, but he was elected as an All-Star reserve so he didn’t have to play. Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder had 40 points, 6 shy of teammate Kevin Durant who was assistant coach of the Rookies.
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On Saturday the H.O.R.S.E. competition got off to a slow start as Kevin Durant, Rajon Rondo, and Omri Casspi shot deep threes as their trick shots and eventually ran out of time, forcing Durant and Rondo into a shootout. Rondo suprisgly hung on for a long time matching Durant shot for shot. Eventually Durant was the winner, making it back-to-back H.O.R.S.E. wins for the first time All-Star. Steve Nash proved that he still has gas in the tank, winning the Skills competition, and Paul Pierce called himself “one of the best shooters in the world” after winning the 3-point Shootout over rookie Stephen Curry. I’m not going waste any time on the Dunk Contest because it wasted my time. The NBA needs to understand that fans dedicate precious time to All-Star weekend and we look forward to an exciting Dunk Contest, but when Nate Robinson does the same dunks he has done the last 3 years, you can’t help but be disappointed.
The All-Star Game made up for any negative feelings you had towards All-Star Weekend with a fast-paced dunk-a-thon. The East was trounced last year by the West 146-119, but without Kobe and Chris Paul due to injury the East had tottal control. Dwight Howard hit a 3-pointer for heavens sake, and the lineup of Rondo, Wade, LeBron, Garnett, and Howard, seemed unstoppable.It was a night to hear a percussion line of dropping jaws hitting the floor at the parade of fancy passes, high-flying dunks and the in-your-face, seven-story close-ups of the celebrities shown on the 160 x 72 foot enormous video screens. The ginormous Cowboys Stadium put many players in awe of its size. ”We were doing it the whole game,” said Denver’s Carmelo Anthony. “When we were on the bench we were just looking around, talking about how many people there were and how excited we were just to be a part of the situation. ”We were on the court during free throws, waiting to come back from time-outs, we were looking and we were amazed by everything that was going on.” “It was unbelievable,” James said. “To be in front of 108,000, that was actually what it was, not a false number. You could look up into the stands and there was not a seat open. To be part of history is something that you always wish for a dream for. Being part of another historical event, you know, it’s humbling.” Wade lead all scores and was selected as All-Star MVP.
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In an effort to give random NBA players a chance at a NBA championship, Steve Blake has agreed to terms on a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to John Canzano of The Oregonian.
